1.3 Krushchev, Brezhnev & Co. Flashcards
(15 cards)
De-stalinisation
discrediting Stalin & reforming USSR after his death 1953
relaxation in censorship, immediate stop of terror
Started by Khrushchev’s Secret Speech 1956 in 20th Party Congress (allowed non-Stalinist policies without damaging his rep)
control through rewards system, Party membership grew
Examples of de-stalinisation
Stalingrad renamed Volgograd in 1961
annual ‘Stalin’ prizes cancelled
2 million political prisoners released from 1953 - 1960
KGB lost control of gulags, under party (not individual) control
Problems with de-Stalinisation
leaked info on Stalin’s crimes led to unrest
student demonstration in favour of multi-party system suppressed Uni of Moscow 1957
New Hungarian gov wanted to withdraw from Warsaw Pact: Red Army to Hungary, 30,000 died
1953-56: Khrushchev’s rise to power
53: Collective leadership of Malenkov, Khrushchev & Beria
K appointed his followers to Central Committee (50% of elected in 1952 were removed/replaced)
Became First Secretary of Communist Party (Politburo renamed Presidium), resumed frequent meetings
Prime Minister: march 1858
Khrushchev’s aims
- De-stalinisation
- Decentralisation (political & economical)
- Socialist Legality: gov+Party are not above law
Khrushchev’s reforms
- Local-level organisations set up
- Secret police under Party control & lost power over gulags
- Party members could not face prison, 2M political prisoners released 1953-60 (only 4% reincorporated by 1955)
- Official’s terms reduced to 3 years
By 1964, 60% of Party members were workers/peasants
Still: heavy punishments for corruption/criticism
Crisis of 1957
‘Anti-Party Group’ led by Malenkov & Molotov attempted to remove K
Presidium asked for his resignation, but it has to be approved by Central Committee (K’s cronies)
Made Malenkov head of State’s Electricity and Molotov ambassador in Mangolia -> change from Stalin
Downfall of Khrushchev
Isolated elites by decentralising power
Removed by Party bureaucrats 1964 due to economical and agricultural failures, Cuban Missile Crisis, mood swings…
1963 harvest disastrous
‘Stalin would have had them shot’ -> fact that he could be democratically removed showed success
Khrushchev’s Foreign Policy
Polish Embassy Reception 1956: “We will bury you!” -> overplayed hand
Berlin Wall 1961: symbol of oppression, prevented western influences
Cuban Missile Crisis 1962: warmongering rep, resignation in 1964
Sinp-Soviet Split 1961- 89: relationship worsened, China rejected de-stalinisation
Brezhnev’s rise to power
Non-threatening Party member, careful not to alienate colleagues -> ‘first among equals’ by 1966
Party wanted to reassert its power and stabilise leadership -> gave Polit sense of unity
Sidelined his rivals (Podgormy given ceremonial Head of State post, Shelepin to deal with foreign affairs)
Brezhnev’s Policies
Reversing de-Salinisation: stopped Party division, removed tenure, end to ‘subjectivism’
‘Trust in cadres’ let experts work without supervision -> led to political stagnation
Membership grew 6.9M 1953 to 17M 1980
Soviet Constitution, 1977: ‘mature socialism’ primacy of Party over state
Presidium renamed Politburo & First Secretary became General in 23rd Party Congress 1966 (Congress of silences -> little discussion
Gerontocracy
average age in politburo 1966: 52 years, 1982: 75 years
old people not in touch with new generation
Brezhnev’s Gov
Shelepin: KGB leader 1961-67, Andropov from 67-82
Suslov: party ideology chief
Kosygin: Prime minister
Yuri Andropov 1982-84
ruled for 15 months
Former head of KGB
Politburo elected him 1982 (68 years old)
Wanted reform but was too ill to work
Anti-corruption campaign in media and anti-alcohol (minor)
Promotion of a younger generation in Party (25% of senior officials replaced)
Chernenko, 1984-5
In office when he was 72 (dying)
Elected by Politburo as self-preservation
Maintained Brezhnev’s stagnation & oligarchy
Died 1985
Gorbachev led meetings on his behalf (Chernenko too ill)
